Page 18 of The Santa Rules
Punching a fist against my chest, I exhale, finally. “Didn’t take you for a hookup app kind of girl. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
“Chestnut Mountain is a small town, and people talk. And everyone here already knows all my business, so options are limited when it comes to dating.”
My eyebrows pinch. “And how does a hookup app solve that?”
“Well, it’s also a very popular tourist spot. They’re in and out and don’t get attached. And I mean that exactly how it sounds. In and out.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Oh, I got it,” I say, a twinge of jealousy hitting me. Why the fuck does the thought of her hooking up with other guys make me jealous?
“I haven’t really dated since my divorce four years ago. Just random hookups when I’m in the mood. Plus, I know as soon as I put myself out there, this town will be talking all about it, and I’m not sure I’m ready for all that. It was hard enough dealing with all the rumors after my divorce.”
I remind myself to ask her more about that later. “Is it okay for me to be here? I wouldn’t want to start any rumors to slander your good name.”
She swats a hand at me. “It’s fine. Avery is my student, and we’re working on a school project. If anyone says anything, we totally have an alibi. But if we’d gone down for coffee at Chestnut Roasters, there’d be rumors about us for days. It would probably be in the town newspaper.Local, hot mess mom woos handsome firefighter.”
I rub my jaw, trying to hide my chuckle at her antics. “That is not how the headline would read.”
“What would it say then?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest in challenge as she raises an eyebrow.
“Grumpy firefighter annoys beautiful, young kindergarten teacher.” I shrug.
Her responding laugh is a soft tinkle, like bells jingling on a sleigh. “I’m not sure my teenager would agree with your youthful assessment of me.”
“I think my assessment is accurate. And I believe there was mention of a mom wooing me?”
She swallows, and I track the movement in the column of her throat. I really want to know if we’re on the same pagewith where this could be headed, and I wait for her reply as I reach out and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“You can’t say things like that to me...”
I pull my hand back, feeling the sting of her words. “Sorry.”
“I wasn’t done. You can’t say things like that to me because it makes me want to kiss you.”
Neither of us move as her words hang between us, heavy like smoke that refuses to clear. “And you don’t want me to kiss you?” My heart races as I wait for her answer.
Our eyes meet, and a bolt of something passes through me. Judging by the way my cock is responding to it, I think it’s lust. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be genuinely attracted to someone. I’ve noticed a pretty girl here and there, but this is more than that. For the first time since Lydie, it’s not just someone’s looks that I find appealing, and the thought of that scares me a little. I don’t deserve a second chance at love.
There’s a clatter near the front door, and she steps back, turning toward the noise. “Isaac, is that you?”
“Who else would it be?” a squeaky teenage voice shoots back. “Are your tits covered?”
Her eyes flick to mine in apology as I slap a hand to my mouth to fight back a laugh. “I told you to stop using that as a greeting when you enter the house.”
“How often are your tits out?” I ask, shooting her a smirk.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you had company,” he says as he enters the room and then turns on his heel.
“Come back here. This is Hardy. He was the EMT who helped me the other night. His daughter is in my class, and he’s helping me with Santa’s Workshop. We were just talking about our plans.”
Isaac walks over to where we’re standing, dragging his feet as he moves. He looks over the papers spread out on the table, and his eyes light up. “That looks cool. Do you need any help?”
“I will never turn down help from you.” She smiles as he takes a seat on the opposite end of the L-shaped couch.
“Hey, I’m Isaac.” He gives me a nod.
“Nice to meet you.”
“She teach you about The Santa Rules yet?”
